Featured Advice

Careers rarely develop the way we plan them. Our career path often takes many twists and turns, with particular events, choices and people influencing our direction.

We asked Shane Bergin from Smart Futures to give some advice for people considering this job:

Science research and lecturing needs people who are curious, creative, stubborn (they like problems that take ages to solve). You need to like communication – you’ll be teaching, writing, debating and discussing science all day, everyday. If you like to be challenged intellectually, are creative about ways to solve problems, like working with teams people from the four corners of the world, then science is for you. It’s more David Attenborough than Sheldon Cooper.

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Self Assessment

What are your interests?

Enterprising?

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

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Going to university can be more than just about studying, so where would you like to live for a few years, while you continue your education?

International students studying in Australia or New Zealand for the duration of their course, have the added advantage of having the time to fully immerse themselves in the local lifestyle and the chance to travel and see that part of the world, at the same time as getting a world-recognised education.

Living such a long way from home for an extended period of time isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – it can be challenging, particularly at first. But if you are someone who is independent by nature, with a sense of adventure and a bit of initiative, and are not afraid of doing something different, there are some amazing experiences and opportunities to be had. Depending where you choose to study, once classes are over you can head to the beach, go skiing for the weekend, take in an exhibition or an art gallery, learn to dive, or just explore the great outdoors.

There are 43 universities in Australia and just eight in New Zealand.

Australian and New Zealand university qualifications are recognised and respected by employers and other universities worldwide. The universities are research-led, and undertake pioneering research in many fields:

The technology for the world’s first vaccine for cervical cancer was discovered at the University of Queensland;

Solar cell researchers at the University of New South Wales played a key role in achieving the highest efficiency for solar power, setting a new world record of 43 per cent of sunlight converted into electricity;

University of Otago researchers have developed a simple urine test to detect kidney transplant rejection, which they hope will eventually replace the current invasive biopsy test.

Governments and businesses worldwide seek the expertise and research power of Australian and New Zealand universities, and their discoveries and academics are in demand by organisations ranging from NATO to NASA. Research excellence is key to ensuring quality undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities, as discoveries and knowledge filter down to inform all levels of university teaching.

There are three main types of higher education which lead to Bachelor, Master and Doctoral Degrees.

In Australia it is quite common for students to enrol in a double or combined Bachelor Degree program which leads to the award of two Bachelor Degrees. This is most common in the fields of arts, commerce, law and science.

How to Search for Courses in Australia and New Zealand

Australian institutions offer a wide range of courses – from science to management and commerce, humanities to engineering, and law to health sciences. Australian institutions rank among the world’s best by discipline, particularly in engineering and technology, medicine, environmental science, and accounting and finance.

There are 43 universities in Australia (40 Australian universities, two international universities, and one private specialty university). Along with our universities, many other institutions offer higher education courses. You can search for institutions and courses using the Institution and Course Search on this website

To study in Australia, students need to apply for both Admission to an institution and for a Student Visa from the Australian Government.

There are a number of steps you must go through including:

Deciding on your preferred course and institution.

Submitting your application to the institution.

Receiving and accepting a Letter of Offer.

Receiving your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE).

Applying for your student visa.

There are a range of entry requirements to meet for both your institution application and for your visa application:

Academic requirements.

English language requirements.

Evidence of funds to support your study.

Overseas student health cover.

Where to Apply

Once you've made the decision to study in Australia and you know where you want to study and which course you want to undertake, there are two ways you can apply:

Apply directly to the institution of your choice

Simply download and complete the college’s application form. You will need to submit a separate application to each institution. You will also need to prepare and submit any supporting documentation required. These will vary depending on the course, the provider and the qualification you are studying for.

When you have read through the course lists, discussed your options and decided which universities you want to apply to, you can let them know and they will send you the relevant application forms and a guide to applying. This will include a checklist of all the supporting documents needed. The completed forms and supporting documents can then be submitted to Study Options, who make sure everything is complete and correct before sending your applications to the universities for assessment.

Most institutions partner with a number of agents. Details on the agents an institution works with can be found on their website or by contacting them directly.

Duration of undergraduate courses in Australia and New Zealand

An Undergraduate degree programme is typically 3 years (144 -156 weeks) in duration.

College Fees and Living expenses in Australia and New Zealand

Tuition Fees

Fees for an Undergraduate Bachelor Degree range from $15,000 to $33,000 per year in Australian dollars. This does not include high value courses such as veterinary and medical. Students should visit individual college websites directly to see costs for these courses.

As an international student, the tuition fees for Australian Universities are payable before you study.

As well as using the Course Search on the Study in Australia website to find courses, you can find details such as tuition fees and any additional costs such as course materials and access to institution facilities.

Accommodation & Living Costs

Knowing the average living costs in Australia is an important part of your financial preparation. For your reference, here are some of the costs associated with living and studying in Australia. (All costs are in Australian dollars.)

Accommodation

Hostels and Guesthouses - $80 to $135 per week

Shared Rental - $70 to $250 per week

On campus - $80 to $250 per week

Homestay - $110 to $270 per week

Rental - $100 to $400 per week

Boarding schools - $10,000 to $20,000 a year

Other living expenses

Groceries and eating out - $80 to $200 per week

Gas, electricity - $60 to $100 per week

Phone and Internet - $20 to $50 per week

Public transport - $10 to $50 per week

Car (after purchase) - $150 to $250 per week

Entertainment - $50 to $100 per week

Minimum cost of living

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has financial requirements you must meet in order to receive a student visa. Below is a guide on the requirements you must meet to study in Australia:

You - $18,610

Your partner - $6,515

Your first child - $3,720

Every other child - $2,790

All costs are per year in Australian dollars.

Funding Opportunities and Scholarships for Studying in Australia

There are many scholarships, grants, and bursaries available to help support students financially with studying in Australia. They are offered by the Australian Government, education institutions, and a number of other public and private organisations.

You can use the search tool on the Study in Australia website to find relevant scholarships, along with contact details for the institution providing the scholarship. All applications for scholarships are made directly to the providing organisation.

Useful links for Studying in Australia or New Zealand

StudyinAustralia – is the official Australian Government website for international students. Find out about courses, institutions, studying and living costs, the application process, visa requirements and much more.

Why Study Down Under – Why go all the way to Australia or New Zealand to study at university? Here are a few things to consider

Study Options - the official representative of Australian and New Zealand universities in the UK and Ireland. They are here to ensure the process of applying to those universities is as stress-free and straightforward as possible. Study Options is the only organisation in the UK that focuses exclusively on Australian and New Zealand education. Hundreds of UK students apply to Australian and New Zealand institutions through Study Options every year.

My Future - myfuture is Australia’s national career information and exploration service, helping people to make career decisions, plan career pathways and manage work transitions.

The International Education Financial Aid website - provides a database of financial aid information for students who want to study in a foreign country. The site contains a comprehensive list of grants, scholarships, loan programmes and other information that may be helpful to students interested in studying in Europe, or other countries abroad CLICK HERE